Metal ingots



Aug. 6, 1963l .C. J. ENGLISH ETAL METAL INGOTS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 5, 1959 (5 4. Lal-F11.

Allg- 6, 1963 c, J. ENGLISH ETAL 3,100,142

METAL INGOTS Filed Nov. 5, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 UMa/.6M

Aug. 6, 1963 C. J. ENGLISH ETAL METAL INGOTS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 5, 1959 United States Patent Ofi ice p A 3,1%,1452 Patented Aug'. 6, 1963 3,100,142 METAL INGOTS D Christopher John English and Stephanus Van Dum,

Arvida, Quebec, Canada, assignors to Aluminium Laboratories Limited, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, a corporation of Canada Filed Nov. 5, 1959, Ser. No. 851,107 16 Claims. (Cl. 29-187) This invention relates to ingots of metals or the like having a form adapted to be stacked in a bundle consisting of a plurality of ingots. The invention especially relates to ingots of such form `as to interengage in the bundle to provide to compact bundle. The invention 'particularly relates to ingots of such interengaging form as to prevent movement of the ingots one with respect to the other in the bundle.

In the manufacture of products such as those cast from molten aluminum or other metals it is a common practice to supply re-melt ingots which in suitable apparatus may be melted for the purpose of molding the desired product. These re-melt ingots ordinarily are of such size that they can be handled conveniently manually. With respect to aluminum ingots the size is such as to limit them to a weight of about 50 pounds each for eicient handling. For transport purposes, however, having regard to the use of machinery available for handling heavy loads, it is desirable to stack the ingots in bundles of substantial size and weight which can be transported safely and securely by vehicle or other carrier to the product manufacturing site. During such transportation it is essential that shifting of the ingots in the bundle be prevented and it is desirable that means for binding the ingots in the bundle shall be simple, conveniently applied and secured with a minimum of binding means.

It has been proposed heretofore to stack a plurality of ingots or oblong bars in layers one upon the other, the ingots in alternate layers being disposed in transverse relation to the ingots thereabove and -therebelow A suitable exterior frame has been provided for holding these ingots in the bundle. to assemble oblong ingots in parallel relation in the bundle, the ingots being provided with lugs and notches disposed so that the lugs of adjacent ingots may interengage and so that lugs of one ingot may engage notches in the adjacent ingot. While these provisions have been directed to preventing endwise shift of the ingots with respect to each other, the form of the ingots has been such that the interlocking of the ingots in the bundle is not entirely satisfactory and requires :the yuse of a sulfiicient number of bands or wires to secure effective binding ofthe ingots in the bundle.

It is an object of the invention to provide an ingot of such form as to cooperate with other similar ingots to build a compact bundle of interlocking ingots.

It is another object of the invention to provide an ingot of such form as to secure interlocking engagement of one ingot with another adjacent ingot disposed in generally parallel relation thereto to prevent lateral as well as endwise movement of one ingot with respect to the adjacent ingot.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an ingot of such form that with a minimum of handling of the ingot it may be disposed in interlocking relation to another adjacent ingot.

It is an additional object of the invention to provide an ingot of such form that the binding means readily may be extended about the stack as well as about subdivided portions thereof to bind the assembly of ingots in position in the bundle.

The invention is principally concerned with ingots, preferably of oblong shape, which are rstacked in a It also has been proposed bundle with like dimensions of the ingots parallel. With ingots in the form of some of the embodiments hereinafter described, the parallel arrangement may be utilized in each layer of a plurality of layers of ingots in superposed relation to each other, all of the ingots in the bundle being disposed with like dimensions extending parallel to each other. With ingo-ts in the form of other embodiments to be described a plurality of layers each consisting of a plurality of ingots in the parallel relation referred t-o may be superimposed one upon the other, either with all of the ingots in the bundle having their like dimensions extending parallel, or if desired, the ingots of this type may be arranged so that in one or more layers the like dimensions of the ingots may ex-tend transversely of the ingots in another or a plurality of other layers. In each embodiment the ingots which extend parallel to each other in a layer are interlocked and in some embodiments the ingots of one layer may be interlocked with ingots lof a superadjacent or subjacent layer.

It is a feature of the invention that the ingot along a given dimension thereof, which may be the length of an oblong ingot, provides Aa shoulder between two portions of the outer surface of the ingot which extend generally parallel to this given dimension, one of these portions being offset inwardly of the ingot with respect to the other. This shoulder is of such form as to cooperate in the bundle with the shoulder of a similar adjacently disposed inverted ingot so as to prevent movement of the ingots toward or away from each other transversely of the given dimension. Preferably, each of the shoulders between the above-mentioned rtwo portions of each of two opposite outer surfaces of the ingot is formed to provide along the given dimension of the ingot a ridge and a recess between this ridge and the inwardly disposed portion of the adjacent outer surface. 'Ihe ridge is engageable with the recess of the adjacent ingot when the ingots are assembled in the bundle one in laterally adjacent inverted relation to the other.V vThe ridges and recesses provide means in the nature of a dovetail for interengagement of the ingots disposed alternately in inverted relation one with respect to the other which prevents lateral movement of the ingots in the bundle. 'Ihe contour of the cross section of the ingot transverse :to the given dimension and transverse to the ridges and recesses preferably is symmetrical.

The ingot of the invention also provides along the shoulders referred to raised pont-ions and depressions disposed so that a depression on one ingot will engage the raised portion of a shoulder of a similar ingot when the ingots are assembled in the bundle in inverted relation one with respect to the other and with the shoulder of cesses and ridges along the shoulder prevent the lateral movement of the ingots with respect to each other transversely of the length thereof.

As will be understood more clearly from a description of the drawings to follow, the ingot of the invention may be of such form .in cross section transversely of the given dimension through the raised portions and depnessions disposed at opposite sides of the ingot that the outline of this lcross section is unsymmetrical.y In this form of the ingot, upon inversion of one ingot with vrespect to the other, a ridge adjacent the recess at one side of a given ingot may engage with the recess of the other ingot but the raised portion at this side of the given ingot will not be disposed to cooperate Wifth the depression at the opposite side of the other ingot in the invertedi'posit-ion thereof. It, therefore, is necessary in this form ofthe ingot to turn the inverted ingot end for end to bring a vdepression of the inverted ingot into proper relation to the raised portion of the flirst ingot for correct position in the bundle.

Having regard to such end for end change of position of the inverted ingot, there also is provided in accordance Vwith the invention a further interlocking means in the 'form of a key projection which may project outwardly of the ingot transversely of the given dimension thereof. The ingot also is provided with a. key recess complemen-tary to the key projection land disposed along the given dimension of the ingot from the projection. The disposition .of the key projectionand of the key recess is such that, when the ingot is turned end for'e'nd, the key projection of the .inverted ingot, comes into posi-tion for engagement with the key recess of the vrst ingot. Preferably the projection and necess are provided at a surface of the ingot which is transverse to the abovefrnentioned outer surfaces at opposite sides oftheingot that are generally parallel to the given dimension.'

It thus will be seen that several means are provided for preventing endwisemovement Vof one "ingot'with respect to the other whenthe ingots are disposed in parallel Abut inverted relation one with respect to the Vother with the shoulders of the two iugots in "theinve'rted vrelation in engagement with each other. The key projections and key recesses referred to, moreover, Vprovide for engagement with other ingotsA that are disposed above oribelow the rst ingot with respect to' the transverse'surfa'ce above referred to. The ingots,` therefore, not onlyareprevented from lateral movement one with respect' to vthe other as vwell as from endwise movement one with respect to the ,other as to each two adjacentlaterally disposed relatively .inverted ingots in a layer, but, because ofthe complementary key projections land key recesses, each layer may fbe secured against movement relative tothe other.

In a modilication of the invention thc/cross section of the ingot transverse to the givendimension land lAthrough the raised portions and depressions 'is 1of'symmetrical'contour. The contour of the transverse cirosssection through the recesses and ridges also preferably Y'is symmetrical. The recesses and the ridges in this embodiment cooperate in the same manner described Lto' 'prevent relative lateral movement and the raised portions Yand depressions similarly cooperate to prevent eiidwiseV mtvvemerit.` Preferaxbly the disposition and form of theraised and depressions are such that each shoulder provides yal'aised vportion and an adjacent depression which, whenthe ingot is inverted without turning it end for end, makes it possible to bring a raised portion'intocooperation 'with the corresponding adjacent depression on the other ingot and a depression into cooperation with the adjacent raised portion on the other ingot.

It is a further feature of the invention that the raised portions land depressions, whether in the er'nbodimentV re'- quiring turning of the ingotY end for end jor in the'enibodiment which merely 'requires inverting the ingotwithout end for end change, may be Adisposed in syrnrrtetrical nelation to eachother along the given dimension of lthe ingot. Preferably, the ingot is symmetrical along this given dimension about a mid-point of its length and vthe depressions and raised portions of leach shoulder are Adisposed symmetrically with respect' to this`,1nid,po1 it.l The recesses and ridges extending along'the`-shoulders also are of such length as to be symmetrical Ywith respect' to Veach other about this mid-point. -In ythe form which requires turning the ingot end 4for endor, lin the form where this Y turning is not necessary, to insure `that theends 'of the iugm are in the Same geen! this sass/ass .to .the

given dimension of the ingots at the exterior of .the bundle, the ingots in their other lengthwise dimensions are made symmetrical about the mid-point. In the embodiment where a key projection and a key recess are provided, the key projection preferably is at the same distance trom the mid-point as the key recess.

The ingot preferably is formed with a base and a body upstanding therefrom, the body being of less width transverse to the given dimension or length of the ingot between opposed surfaces than the base portion. The shoulders are formed between the respective opposed lengthwise surfaces of the base and the adjacent lengthwise surfaces of the body. In general the transverse and longitudinal cross sections of the ingot through the base and body are symmetrical Ibut the transverse section through the raised portion and depression may be unsymmetrical asabove mentioned. The'base may be formed at each side with twol shoulders thcrealong separated by a space to receive a band or strap, this space and the portions of the base at either side thereof being'symmetrical about the mid-point of the length of the ingot. 'Ihe body also along the length thereof may be generally symmetrical about this mid-point. In the embodiment where the key projections and key recesses are provided, however, the symmetry of the body portion may be modified depending on the 4fio-rim of these key projections and key recesses.

Other objects and Ifeatures of the invention will be understood from the description to follow taken in connectionwith the drawings in which:

FIG; 1 shows a perspective of an embodiment of the invention utilizing the key projections and key recesses;

FIG. 2 is an end view at the left of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the ingot of FIG. l;

FIG. 4 shows a longitudinal elevation with an inverted ingot in dotted outline to show the interengagement of the key projections and key recesses;

FIG. 5 is a section on line 5 5 of FIG. 1 showing the unsyrnmetrical contour of the cross section through a raised portion and a corresponding depression at the op posite side of the ingot;

FIG. 6 shows in section an assembly of two layers of the ingots of FIG. 1 with adjacent ingots in each layer in inverted relation one with respect to the other;

FIG. 7 shows an assembly in a bundleof a plurality of layers of the ingots of FIG. l in the inverted interengaging relation with a binding n'leans holding the layers jin place;

FIG. 8 shows -in perspective a modication of the ingot of FIG. 1 which omits the key projections and key recesses;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a further modiiicaton;

FIG. 10 shows an end view of the' ingot of FIG. 9 and kin dotted outline an adjacent inverted ingot in interlock- .gots being shown in dotted outline.

In FIG. 1 the ingot 1 is formed with a base 3 of generally rectangular outline in the horizontal plane and a body 5 opstanding from the base also of generally rectangular outline in the horizontal plane. The base provides opposed outer surfaces 7 extending :along and generally parallel to the lengthwise extent of the ingot. The body 5 also provides outer surfaces 9 extending Ialong and generally parallel to the length of the ingot. The surfaces 9 are oiset symmetrically inwardly of the ingot from the respective adjacent surfaces 7.

Between the surfaces 7 and the respective adjacent surfaces 9 are formed shoulders 11. These shoulders form top surfaces of the base 3 at two portions thereof iat each side adjacent the respective outer surfaces 7, the two portions being separated along the length of the ingot by ya space 13 formed between surfaces 15 adjacent and preferably disposed symmetrically with respect to the midpoint of the length of the ingot. I-n the embodiment of FIG. l the lengths of the shoulders at either side of the space 13 are equal. The length of the base of the ingot between the end `surfaces 17 and the length of the body between end :surfaces 1'9 are .symmetrical about the midpoint. yIt will be noted that all of the surfaces 7, 9, and 19 are sloped in order to pro-vide draft for molding the ingot.

The shoulders 11 in the embodiment of FIG. l provide surfaces 21 inclined from outer edges or ridges 23 inwardly and ldownwardly to meet the body 5 and forming with the inclined surfaces 9 lengthwise recesses which in this embodiment extend from the end surfaces 19 along the shoulders. At the side of the ingot toward the observer in FIG. 1 the recess provided by the surface 21 on each of the two shoulders -at this side .meets at its end disposed toward the space 13 a raised portion 25, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. At the opposite side of the ingot and lat the ends of the shoulders which yare adjacent the space 13 on that side of the ingot depressions 27 are formed, as shown in FIGS, 1 and 2. The bottom of these depressions 27, `as m-ay be seen in FIG. 2, is substantially at the bottom of the recesses formed 'at that side of the ingot where the surfaces 21 meet the surface 9 of the body. At the near side of the ingot in FIG. 1 the surfaces 25 of the raised portions are substantially at the level of the ridges 23, as shown in FIGS. l and 2. The raised portions 25 `at the near side yare opposite to the respective depressions 27 at the opposite side of the ingot.

As may be seen in FIG. 5, the median pl-ane A shown in dotted line between the upper face 29 of the body and the bottom of the base 3 bisects the inclined surfaces 21 of the shoulders 11. The contour of a cross section taken transverse to the lengthwise dimension of the ingot through the recesses and ridges formed by the surface 21 is symmetrical about a median vertical plane B perpendicular to the plane A. The section of FIG. 5 on line 5 5 'of FIG. l, however, is taken through a raised portion 25 at the -near side and the depression at the opposite side and is unsymmetrical about the vertical median plane B.

In assembling the ingots of the type shown -in FIGS. l to 4 with one ingot in inverted relation -with respect to the adjacent ingot, it will be understood that the recesses vformed by the surfaces 21 and the ridges 23 will interengage because of the symmetrical relation. That is to say, -an ingot such as that shown in FIG. 5 may be inverted so that the right hand surface 21 before the inversion may be disposed -at the left in inverted position for engagement with the right hand surface 21 of the ingot disposed as in FIG. 5. The arrangement of the ingots in this manner is shown in FIG. 6, alternate ingots being inverted about the lengthwise dimension of the ingot with the inclined surfaces 21 in engagement, as shown in dotted lines. By this inversion, however, the raised surfaces 25 will become disposed at the left and will not interengage with the surfaces 27 of the depressions, because of the unsymmetrioal contour of the ingot in the plane 5 5 yof FIG. l. If the ingot not only thus is inverted but also is turned end for end, the depression 27 disposed at the left of FIG. 5 will become disposed at the left in the inverted position so as to interengage with the surfaces 25 Iof the raised portions at the right of the ingot in FIG. 5. This interengagement of the unsynrmetrioal surfaces 27, 25 with oorresponding surfaces 25 `and 27 is shown in FIG. 6.

In the upper layer in this ligure two ingots are disposed with the bases downward and one therebetween disposed with the base upward. In the lower layer two ingots are disposed with the bases upward in engagement with the bases of the irst mentioned two ingots and the ingot therebetween is disposed with the base downward. With the ingots thus disposed in each layer, 'alternate ingots being inverted with respect to those adjacent in the same layer, the interenga-gement of the ridges 23 with the recesses formed by the surfaces 21 secures the ingots against lateral movement one with respect to the other transversely of the length thereof. When the ingots are disposed in this inv verted land turned end for end relation to each other, the raised portions 25 and the depressions 27 also interengage to prevent movement of the ingots lengthwise thereof with respect to each other. Thus, in each layer movement of the ingots with respect to each other in either direction the plane of the layer is prevented.

In the embodiment of FIGS. l, 3 and 4 the ingot is provided with a key projection 35 which upstands from the body 5. At an equal distance at the opposite side of the mid-point of the ingot, that is, the mid-point of the space 13, a key recess 317 is formed in the upper tace 29 of the body 5. The key projection 35 is formed with sloping surfaces 39, 40 and a flat top 41 which respectively engage the sloping surfaces 43 and I44 and the bottom surface 45 of the key recess 3-7. In this embodiment also the surface 40 is lengthened to extend to the surface 47 of a recess or shelf disposed nearer the base than the surface 219 of the body 5. The surface 44 of the recess 37 likewise is lengthened to a top surface 49 of a second projection '50 disposed above the surface 29' of the body, so that the surface 47 of an ingot inverted and turned end for end with the key projection 35 thereof disposed in the key recess 37 of the rst ingot will engage the surface `49 of the rst ingot and the sloping surface 40 also will engage the sloping surface 44,

It will be understood in such end for end inversion the right hand depression 27 at the far side in FIG. 1 will become disposed at the left and, there-fore, will be in position to engage the raised portion 25 at the near side of an ingot disposed as shown in FIG. l, so that the interengagement of the raised portions and depressions will be effected and, as well, the interengagement of the ridges 23 with the recesses provided by the surfaces 21. The interengagement of the key projection 35- with the key recess 37 also will effect interengatgement of an inverted ingot in an upper layer with an upright ingot immediately below in a lower layer, as shown in FIG. `6. The key projections and key recesses are effective, there-fore, to interlock the ingots of one layer with respect to the other. VHaving regard to the interengaging relation of the ingots in the same layer both against endwise and lateral movement with respect to each other, the interlocking effected by the key projections and key recesses -in two ingots inverted with respect to each other in the two layers complete the interlocking relation of the ingots in the bundle to prevent movement of the layers relative to each other lengthwise of the ingots. Movement of the layers parallel to the plane thereof transversely of the length of the ingots is prevented by the abutting relation of the outer surfaces 7 and 9 in adjacent ingots.

FIG. 7 shows an assembly of a plurality of layers similar to those of FIG. 6 in which the ingots are arranged in the interengaging and interlocking relation of the individual ingots in alternate inverted relation with respect to each other in the layers `and of the layers of the ingots in the bundle. It will be apparent, because the shoulders are formed with the inclined surfaces 21 and ridges 23, that the two ingots that are disposed one above the other in the supenposed layers` form a dovetail which engages the dovetail recess provided by the two relatively inverted adjacent ingots of these layers.

At the central portion of FIG. 7 a broken-away section is shown to reveal the alignment of the spaces 13 in superposed layers of ingots which makes it possible to pass the band or binding strap 51 down through the series of spaces 13 and along the upper and lower surfaces of the bundle, as well as along the outer Ivertical faces of the bundle- ,portion of the bundle as well as at the outer vertical `faces of the bundle. The band S1, therefore, holds the central column of ingots rigidly and the dovetails in cooperation with the band are eifective to hold the other ingots rigidly inrelation to this column. As may be seen -at the bottom `row of FIG. 7, where the ingots are disposed with kthe key projections 3-5 downward, the band 51 may be disposed in notches 53 provided at the ed-ges ofthe top surface 29 of the body v5, so as to avoid a sharp right angle bend in the band 51 and to prevent slipping `of the band along the ingots at these points.

In the particular arrangement of FIG. 7, two bands 51 are shown extending about left and right hand portions of the bundle each extending about the centrally disposed column of ingots interlocked by the key projections and key recesses. In some cases, depending upon the number of ingots and their size and weight, a single band drawn tight around the bundle with the band disposed in the spaces 13 of the outer ingots may be effective to hold the ingots securely in the bundle. Two such bands are shown in FIG. 7, or if desired a greater number, may be used to secure the ingots in a larger bundle.

FIG. 8 shows a modification of the ingots of FIGS. l to 4, inclusive, in which the key projections and key recesses are omitted. In this embodiment the shoulders are formed with the inclined surfaces 2.1 and the ridges 23 and with the raised portions 25 at the near side, the shoulders extending along the ingot in two portions separated by the space 13 the same as in FIG. l. In this embodiment the top surface 29 of the body 5 extends parallel to the base without providing the key projections and key recesses. A portion of the body is broken away in FIG. 8 to show the right hand depression 27 at the opposite side rof the body from the right hand raised portion 25, the

left hand depression at this opposite side being hidden by the body 5. It will -be understood that when the ingot of FIG. 8 is inverted in a lengthwise line -it also may be turned end for end in order that the recesses 27 shall come into position to engage the raised lportions 25 when the shoulder of the far side of the ingot in the inverted position is disposed above and in lapping relation to the near shoulder of FIG. 8.

The ingot of FIG. 8, except for the unsymmetrical cross section through the raised portions 2S and depressions 217, is symmetrical in transverse section as well as at either side of the mid-point of the space 13A. The

notch 61 in the embodiment of FIG. 8 merely serves to identify the end of the ingot, for example, respect to which, when the ingot is viewed at that end,`the raised portions will be at the right and the depressions 27 at the left.

In the embodiment of FIG. 8 `a central strap locating notch 63 is formed in 'the upper surface 29, this notch being symmetnical about the mid-point and of similar form to the space 13, sothat the band 51 passing about the bundle may bear on the bottom surface 65| of the notch 63.

A further modification of the ingot of the invention is shown in FIGS. l9= to 14, inclusive. In this embodiment the ingot has the general form of that shown in FIG. 8 with key projections and key recesses omitted but the form and Vdisposition of the raised portions and depressions is such that the ingot is symmetrical in its cross section at any point therealong and is symmetrical about the mid-point thereof along its lengt-h, so that without end dor end change, as above described, the ingot simply may be inverted to lap a shoulder of one ingot upon the shoulder of .the adjacent ingot to secure the interengagement which prevents lateral as well as endwise movement oft the lingots relative to each other. If the ingot of f8 FIGS. 9 to 14, however, were inverted and turned end for end, the raised portions and depressions still will interengage.

In FIG. 9 reference numerals for the same portions of the ingot are used .as in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 7 and FIG. 8. In FIG. l9 the body '5 upstands from the base 3 and is orrned with lengthwise outer surfaces 9 and a top surface 29, the base being provided with lengthwise louter surfaces 7, the `surfaces 7 and 9 sloping tor draft and the surfaces 9 being offset inwardly of the ingot with respect to the surfaces 7 4as in FIG. 1. The body 5 is symmetrical lengthwise thereof :and is provided with a notch 63` as in the embodiment of FIG. 8. The end surfaces =19 of the body are symmetrical about the mid-point and slope to provide for dra-tt. Y

In the embodiment of FIG. 9l the .ridges 67 correspond- -ing to the ridges 23- of FIG. 1 are of rounded contour and the sloping curvilinear surfaces 69 connect these ridges with the adjacent surfaces 9* of the body to form recesses adjacent the respective surfaces 9 of such contour that the ridges .and recesses of an inverted ingot may be disposed in interengaging relation -to the ridges and recesses of .the first ingot, as -shofwn in FIG. 10. 'Ilhe cross section of the ingot transversely lthrough the ridges and recesses is symmetrical, as shown -in FIG. 10.

In FIG. 11 is shown a cross section of the ingot taken on line 11-11 of FIG. 9 transversely through the raised portions 71 and the adjacent depressions 73` both of which are formed as part of tbe same shoulder at the near side of the ingot. symmetrically disposed with respect to the mid-point of `the ingot at the right thereof Ais a similar raised portion 71 and an adjacent depression 73. The raised portions 71 have a substantially dat top surface which is engageable with the substantially flat botto-m sur-face of the adjacent depression 73 at tlhe same side ot the ingot when one ingot is inverted in relation to another with the shoulders -in lapping relation. It will be understood, therefore, when an ingot of the type shown in FIG. 9 is inverted about -a lengthwise dimension without turning it end for end, that a depression 73 of the inverted ingot will be brought into engagement witlh the raised portion 71 of the irst ingot and a raised port-ion 71 of the inverted ingot will be brought into engagement with the depression 73 of the rst ingot. Because the depressions provide end surfaces 75 against which the end surfaces 77 of the raised portions may abut, lthe ingots are prevented from movement lengthwise thereof with respect to each other in the same layer of ingots disposed in alternately upright and inverted relation to each other.

The provision in the ingot of FIGS. 9 to 14 of the int'erengaging raised perdons 71 and depressions 73 and the provision of the interlocking ridges 67 and recesses -o'rmed by surfaces 69 secure the ing-ots against movement with respect to each other in lthe plane of the layer in either direction. In a bundle of a plurality of such layer-s in which the bottom surfaces of the bases are in engagement .and the plane of these bottom surfaces is the same as the plane of the top surface 29 of the body of each inverted adjacent ingot, movement of one layer with respect to the other is prevented by the binding action of the band which may pass around the bundle in a similar manner -as that shown in FIG. 7, the band being disposed in the spaces 13l and the notches 63. In the embodiments of FIGS. 9 to 14, since it is unnecessary to turn the ingot end for end, the means of identifying the end Iof the unit, such as the notch 61 of F-IG. 8 or the provision of the key projections 35 and recesses 37, is not necessary.

The body 5 lin each of the embodiments described is shorter in length than the base to provide anges which in the bundle become spaced apart in two superposed layers to facilitate handling of the ingots manually to dispose the ingots in the bundle or -to lift them from the bundle. The flanges are of the same form at each end because of the symmetrical form and rel-ation of the body and the base -along the length of the ingot.

Having regard to the offset of the surfaces 9 ofthe body from the surfaces 7 of the base to form the shoulders and the provision of the raised portions and depressions as Well as the key projections and recesses and the spaces and notches for the strap binding, the ingots of the invention provide a relatively large surface in relation to the volume of the metal. The rate of cooling of the ingot as well as the rate of absorption of heat for remelting thereby Iare increased.

Within the scope of the invention the form of the ingot may be modified while preserving the features which have been described which provide for interengagement of the raised portions and depressions -to prevent lengthwise movement of the ingots with respect to each other and the interlocking of the recesses and ridges to prevent lateral movement of these ingots relative to each other in the layer. Modification also may be made in the form and contour of the key projections -and key recesses to prevent movement of the layers relative to each other. The form may be modified while providing for binding the ingots in the bundle not only peripherally but internally of the bundle by virtue of the spaces at the midpoints of the ingots disposed between portions of the base upon which are formed the shoulders extending along the ingots. All such modifications are intended to come within the scope of the appended claims. In the claims the term elevated pa is to be understood to define broadly both the raised portion and the ridge and the term depressed part is intended to define broadly the depression and the recess.

The application is la continuation-in-part of the application of Christopher John English and Stephanus Van Duin, Serial No. 802,497, filed March 27, 1959.

We claim:

l. An ingot adapted to form a stable bundle with similar ingots stacked in mutually engaging relation, said ingot being defined by opposed outer surfaces extending generally parallel to a given dimension of said ingot and by shoulders `disposed at opposite sides of the ingot and extending generally parallel to said given dimension of said ingot, each shoulder being disposed between and transverse to two portions of the adjacent outer surface that are in odset relation to each other transversely of said outer surfaces, at least a given one of said shoulders being formed with a raised portion and a depression disposed -along said dimension for engaging respectively a depression and a raised portion of a shoulder of a similar ingot when the ingots are assembled in the bundle in inverted relation one with respect tothe other and with the shoulder of one ingot lapped upon the shoulder of the other ingot.

2. An ingot adapted to form -a stable bundle Wit-h similar ingots stacked in mutually engaging relation, said ingot being defined by opposed outer surfaces extending generally parallel to a given dimension of said ingot and by shoulders disposed at opposite sides of the ingot and extending generally parallel to said given dimension of said ingot, each shoulder being disposed between and transverse to two portions of the adjacent outer surface that are in offset relation to each other transversely of said outer surfaces, each of said shoulders being formed with a raised portion and a depression disposed along said dimension for engaging respectively a depression and a raised portion of the shoulder of a similar ingot when the ingots are assembled in the bundle in inverted relation one with respect to the other and with the shoulder of one ingot lapped upon the shoulder of the other ingot.

3. An ingot adapted to form a stable bundle with similar ingots stacked in mutually engaging relation which comprises a base defined by opposed outer surfaces extending generally parallel to `a given dimension of said ingot, and a body upstanding from said base and defined by opposed outer surfaces extending lgenerally parallel 10 to said given dimension of said ingot, the opposed outer surfaces of said -body being offset symmetrically toward each other from the respect-ive adjacent outer surfaces of said base, yand shoulders disposed between said opposed outer surfaces of said base and the respective adjacent outer surfaces of said body, said shoulders being disposed transverse to said outer surfaces and extending lengthwise of and generally parallel to said given dimension of the ingot, said shoulders being formed with raised portions and depressions disposed therealong for engaging respectively depressions and raised portions of -a similar ingot when the ingots are assembled in the bundle in inverted relation one with respect to the other and with a shoulder of one ingot lapped upon the shoulder of the other .ingot,

4. An ingot as defined in claim 1 in which a plurality of said raised portions and an equal number of said depressions are disposed in relation to each other along said dimension so that said raised portions on one ingot are engaged in said depressions on the other ingot in said assembly.

5. An ingot as defined in claim 2 in which la plurality of said raised portions are formed on one shoulder disposed in symmetrical relation to each other with respect to the mid-point of the lengthwise extent of said shoulder and a plurality of said depressions are formed on the other shoulder disposed in symmetrical relation to each other with respect to the mid-point of the lengthwise extent of said other shoulder.

6. An ingot as defined in claim l in which the surface of said given shoulder with respect to the Iadjacent outer surface of said ingot is incl-ined in the direction to form between the two portions of said adjacent outer surface and extending along the length of said shoulder tan inwardly disposed recess and an outwardly disposed ridge, said ridge being engageable with the recess of another ingot when said ingots are assembled in the bundle in inverted relation to each other.

7. An ingot as defined in claim 2 in which the surface of each of said shoulders with respect to the outer surface of said ingot is inclined in the direction to `form between the two portions of said adjacent outer surface and extending along the length of said shoulder an inwardly disposed recess and an outwardly disposed ridge, said ridge being engage-able with the recess of another ingot when said ingots are assembled in the bundle in inverted rel-ation to each other, the inclined surfaces and ridges of `said two shoulders being disposed in symmetrical relation to each other and to said opposed outer surfaces of said ingot, the contours of lsaid depressions and raised portions at the opposite sides of said ingot being in unsymrnetrical relation to each other and to said opposed outer surfaces.

8. An ingot as defined in claim 3 in which said base of said ingot adjacent each outer surface thereof is formed by two portions having their lengths extending generally parallel to said given dimension of said ingot and separated from each other along said dimensions by a space adapted to receive a strap for binding said ingots in said bundle.

9. An ingot as defined in claim 3 in which said body at the face thereof opposite to said base is provided with a notch disposed intermediate the ends thereof and adapted to receive a strap for binding said ingots in said bundle.

l0. An ingot adapted to form a stable bundle with` similar ingots stacked in mutually engaging relation which comprises la base, a body upstanding from said base and forming therewith shoulders extending generally parallel to a given dimension of said ingot, each off said .shoulders providing for engagement with the shoulder of a laterally adjacent parallelly disposed similar inverted ingot, said body *being provided with a key portion projecting at the side thereof from Said base transverse to said dimen sion and disposed in a given position along said dimension of said body, said body at the same side thereof in another position along said dimension being provided with a key recess complementary to said projecting key portion and 11 adapted to receive said key portion of a similar ingot when the ingots are assembled in the bundle in inverted relation one with respect to the other with said givenrldimension of said ingots generally parallel. Y

1l. An ingot as defined in claim l0 in which said projecting key portion is disposed at a given distance from the mid-point of said body along said dimension thereof and said recess is disposed at the same distance from said mid-point at the opposite side thereof Ifrom said projection.

12. An ingot as defined in claim 2 in which the depressions of each shoulder are disposed in opposed relation respectively to raised portions of the other shoulder transversely of said given dimension, the contour of the cross section of said ingot transverse to said given dimension and through a 4raised portion of a shoulder at one side of the ingot and through the depression of the shoulder at the opposite side of the ingot being unsyrnmetrical, Whereby the raised portion of the shoulder at one side of the ingot is engageable with the `depression at the opposite side of the ingot in the assembly of said ingots.

13. An ingot as defined in claim 3 in which the ou-t- :lines of said base and of said -body in planes parallel to said given dimension and transverse -to said opposed outer Surfaces thereof are rectangular.

14. An ingot as defined in claim 13 in which said body is shorter along said given dimension than said base, said body ibeing disposed substantially in 'symmetrical relation to said base along said dimension.

15. An ingot as defined in claim in which said pro- .jecting key portion and said key recess are disposed with respect to the `length of said tbody sodas substantially to ailign the ends `of said ingots in said bundle respectively in planes transverse Ito said given dimension of said ingots.

12 16. An ingot adapted to form a stable Abundle with similar ingots `stacked in mutually engaging relation, said ingoit being defined iby opposed outer surfaces extending generally parallel to a given dimension of said i-ngot and by shoulders disposed ia-t opposite sides |of the ingot eX- tending generally parallel to said Vgiven dimension of said ingot, each shoulder being disposed between and transverse to rtwo portions "of the adjacent outer surface that are in odset relation to each iother transversely of said louter surfaces, said shoulders providing an elevated part and 'a depressed par-t formed for engagement respectively with a depressed part and an elevated part provided on a similar ingot when the ingots are assembled in the bundle in inverted relation one with respect to the other and with la shoulder of one ingot lapped lupon a shoulder of the other ingot.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3, 100, 142 August 6, 1963 Christopher John English et al.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column l, line 14, for "to", second occurrence, read a column 9, line 33, for "The" read This column 10, line 7l, after "thereof" insert outwardly column 11, line 26, for the claim reference numeral "13" read Signed and sealed this 28th day of April 1964.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER EDWARD J BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. AN INGOT ADAPTED TO FORM A STABLE BUNDLE WITH SIMILAR INGOTS STACKED IN MUTUALLY ENGAGING RELATION, SAID INGOT BENG DEFINED BY OPPOSED OUTER SURFACE EXTENDING GENERALLY PARALLEL TO A GIVEN DIMENSION OF SAID INGOT AND BY SHOULDERS DISPOSED AT OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE INGOT AND EXTENDING GENERALLY PARALLEL TO SAID GIVEN DIMENSION OF SAID INGOT, EACH SHOULDER BEING DISPOSED BETWEEN AND TRANSVERSE TO TWO PORTIONS OF THE ADJACENT OUTER SURFACE THAT ARE IN OFFSET RELATION TO EACH OTHER TRANSVERSELY OF SAID OUTER SURFACES, AT LEAST A GIVEN ONE OF SAID SHOULDERS BENG FORMED WITH A RAISED PORTION AND A DEPRESSION DIS- 